A Beijing resident has built what looks like a mountain palace on top of an
apartment block.

A Chinese man is believed to have illegally built an astonishing rooftop palace on the top of a residential building in Beijing.

According to a report in TheBeijing Morning Post, the bizarre two-storey edifice – which looks like it has been carved from a mountainside – was constructed by a man known only as Professor Zhang on the top of a suburban apartment block.

The professor is said to have spent over six years building his home, after knocking down the penthouse he bought on the 26th floor in 2007. The property even has a rocky mountain garden, complete with rubble and shrubbery.

Residents of other apartments in the block claim they have been disturbed by constant noise from the property's construction, as well as problems with leaks and cracks. One resident said that several neighbours had even chosen to move out because of the villa.

Another neighbour complained of the professor’s late-night jam sessions and said the sound of rooftop singing often kept locals awake. Professor Zhang had promised to lay thick carpet in order to soundproof his two-storey abode but had failed to do so.

"This is definitely an illegal construction," local officials told The Beijing Morning Post.

They added that they had contacted Professor Zhang about his home, but were uncertain about how action to demolish the property would progress.

Paul Gerard, a specialist in property litigation at Irwin Mitchell, said that the villa could pose safety risks. "Obviously the first concern for the other residents is the increased structural load that has been placed on the building, and if this is causing any detrimental effects, such as subsidence, on the overall property. It does look like quite a lot of tonnage has been put up without any reinforcements."

Illegal buildings are a serious problem in Beijing, where properties and land are increasingly expensive and planning laws have not always been strictly enforced. Especially common are illegal extensions or "add-ons" to existing homes, which can be extremely unsafe.

Earlier this year, a special campaign was set up to oversee the demolishment of illegal structures in the city. It is claimed thousands have been demolished, but many more remain.